energy ← the digital glebe

After the Gold Rush 1

May

2013

Scottish Islands Renewable Project: Final Report https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/scottish-islands-renewable-project-final-report ‘Our study concludes that the costs of deploying renewables on a large scale in the Scottish Islands is high, and that there are a number of technological and environmental challenges. However, onshore wind on the Scottish Islands is cost competitive with several other forms of low carbon generation ...

Know Thy Enemy 3

Apr

2013

“When the facts change, I change my mind. What do you do, sir?” John Maynard Keynes Almost to a man, the four main parties in UK politics -Lib Lab Con SNP- all repeat the following mantra with little deviation: “Climate change is the greatest threat faced by humanity and the most important political issue of ...

Boom & Bust 3

Apr

2013

Climate scientists struggle to explain warming slowdown Reuters Apr 16, 2013 article Carbon Falls Most Ever After EU Parliament Rejects Surplus Fix Bloomberg Apr 16, 2013 article Clean Energy Investment Falls 22% as Subsidy Cuts Stall Projects Bloomberg Apr 15, 2013 article Michael Liebreich, Chief of Bloomberg New Energy: “For investment in clean energy to ...

Stealth Tax on Steroids 5

Apr

2013

The EU Emissions Trading System has been in meltdown over the past 12 months, caused partly by the so-called ‘economic crisis’ and a surplus of carbon allowances which presumably, no-one wants to touch. Prices are currently languishing well below €5 per tonne, compared to a €37.78 high in 2008, before ‘climategate’ struck, courtesy of Mr ...

Generation Nation 2

Mar

2013

Time to get one of these: Just enough power to run the water pump and the oil burner. When the power companies themselves are finally starting to voice concerns over rolling blackouts you know the fat lady is fast approaching the microphone. Stay warm.

Dateline 2060

Mar

2013

By Motm Dateline 2060: Kuril Islands Volcano — An occasional Future On March 1st 2060 the broadcast information service announced the sudden arrival of an earthquake strength in excess of 7.5 and for the first time a live volcano to follow, rising up, seeming from nowhere. This news is of itself of great concern but ...

POWERfull Thoughts 3

Feb

2013

By Motm Over the last few weeks it has become increasingly clear that the UK has an energy problem. More specifically, an electricity generation problem. Sections of the community are wringing their hands now finally and predicting widespread power cuts, which in the worst case could last two or three years until the generating capacity ...

They Just Don’t Get It 9

Feb

2013

Liam McArthur, Orkney MSP “Parliament’s energy, economy and tourism committee report makes clear that the government’s renewables targets are achievable. It also highlights the need for both Scotland’s governments to play their part in making this happen. “Two critical areas identified by the committee are the need to improve grid capacity and reform the system ...

Trust 7

Feb

2013

Trust is just so fragile! By Motm – About once a month I have a meal with a long term ex-work colleague It turns out to be a general discussion about putting the world to rights, but one thing is a common thread, that things seem to be getting worse! Trust seems to be like ...

Sea Monster 7

Feb

2013

The Beast The biggest seas currently on the planet are going to be west of Orkney over the next 60 hours. They will be monstrous, with a height of 48+feet. Whilst it’s grand weather for beachcombers, it’s simply madness to be out in. Now imagine that hitting a large-scale wave-farm deployed off the Orkney coast. ...